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When away from home, your hotel room can be a place of many things for you … a place of relaxation, vacation bliss, solitude and a place to lay your head at the end of a busy day. And while all of this is exactly what we want our Breckenridge hotel to be for our guests, one thing our hotel rooms also ending up being is a haven for misplaced belongings. While we make every attempt to return these pesky items to their rightful owners, the following is a list of the nine most common objects left at our hotel and how to avoid forgetting them in the first place:

1. Jewelry

The number one item that is most commonly left behind is jewelry. Often taken off and placed down somewhere without even thinking about it, jewelry can slip behind nightstands or just end up in a nook and cranny of the couch. So, a good rule of thumb is to bring a small bag or pouch that is designated specifically for your jewelry, and will hopefully end up reminding you to double check your items before leaving.

2. Phone Chargers

The second most often misplaced items are mobile phone chargers. These unsung heroes are often plugged into a wall outlet and left in place for the duration of your stay. However, this typically presents a problem as you tend to forget to unplug them from their temporary homes before you leave. Avoid this hassle by checking every wall outlet and drawer when packing your bags. This can save you some hassle in the long run.

3. Toiletries

These miniature-sized travel items tend to hide out in the most unassuming places such as counter corners, showers and bedside tables. While not necessarily the end of the world if left behind, we do find lots and lots of toiletries when cleaning our rooms. So, do yourself a favor and keep all of these items in one place – such as a toiletry kit – and avoid spreading them out to other sections of the room. Be sure to check the shower before you leave as well.

4. Clothes

Our Breckenridge lodging does offer up dressers, nightstands and closets to store your clothes in, but you want to be careful as this could backfire on you if you are rushed to pack up in a hurry. While we do encourage the use of these storage spots to make you feel more at home, try bringing a bag to place all of your dirty clothes in and maybe leave a note on your suitcase to remind you of any clothes hanging in the closet, drawers, and especially the bathroom. If you know you are the forgetful type, why not just keep your clothes in your suitcase for the duration of your stay?

5. Keys

Hotel rooms come with their own key(s) to let you in. So, you could end up placing your “real life” keys on the counter – or in a drawer – and forget about them for the time being. The problem is, however, that you might not realize they were left behind until you reach that lock that you need to unlock. Quick tip … if you don’t need the keys on your trip, pack them away into a bag and leave them there.

6. Laptops & Tablets

Since these items might be on the more expensive side of things you are travelling with, people tend to stash these devices out of immediate view. While this is a good idea at the time of your stay, it often leads to guests forgetting them in those “secret hiding spaces.” Keep from forgetting these valuable items by leaving on note on the door to remember to grab your devices before you leave.

7. Eyeglasses/ Sunglasses

This may be more of a problem for us than other hotels because of our proximity to the sun (9,680 ft.) and the necessity of donning a pair of sunglasses at all times. However, I am not sure how exactly how one forgets eyeglasses Sure, I can understand leaving behind a pair of reading glasses – and eyeglasses if you alternate between them and contact lenses – but typically glasses are just a part of your apparel for the day. Maybe you would not forget all of the aforementioned items on this list if you were wearing your glasses in the first place?

8. Books

While books are full of words, they can’t speak out to let you know you are leaving them behind. We don’t mind placing them on our community shelves in the Great Room, but if you keep your reading materials all in one designated place, you are less apt to forget them.

9. Teddy Bears, “Blankies” & Other Kids’ Toys

I’ve personally been there. You are in a rush to check out, the kid is screaming and you are making sure you have all of your belongings. It is most important that you don’t forget your child, but sometimes the youngster doesn’t comprehend that you are leaving for good and ends up leaving teddy bears, “blankies” and other toys behind. This can be catastrophic for children to not have their comfort toy, and then can end up being disastrous for the parents that have to deal with the repercussions. Just remember to do a thorough sweep of the room when leaving and follow your child out of the room.

So, before you embark on your journey in the first place, why not make a checklist of the items that you are taking with you to help ensure that everything is packed in your bags before you check out of your hotel room? Why not give yourself some extra time to pack instead of leaving it to the last minute so you have time to search for any missing items? Finally, please make a sweep of closets, dresser drawers, bathrooms and other places where items are frequently left behind.

Just know that after all of this, items will still be left behind and that we here at our Breckenridge, CO hotel will contact you regarding your misplaced items and are happy to arrange for shipping of those items for you. However, you can save yourself some money and hassle by following the above thoughts and tips. Safe and happy traveling from your friends at the Wedgewood Lodge.